Baseball swing training apparatus

Abstract

A baseball swing training apparatus that is configured to teach a player an optimal combination of three independent swing path angles wherein the apparatus further provides training for the three swing path angles for balls in alternate locations within a batter strike zone. The present invention includes a base platform that has four wheel assemblies operable to provide omnidirectional movement of the base platform. Secured to the upper surface of the base platform is the lift assembly. The lift assembly includes three arm members that are independently movable with separate motor and gear assemblies. A ball retention member is secured to the lift assembly wherein a swing path angle adjustment assembly is operably intermediate the ball retention assembly and the lift assembly. The swing path angle adjustment assembly includes a first, second and third axis movement assemblies each being independently adjustable.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A baseball swing training apparatus configured to provide training for a user to improve hitting baseballs at various locations within a strike zone wherein the baseball swing training apparatus comprises:
 a base platform member, said base platform member being planar in manner and configured to be superposed a ground surface, said base platform member having an upper surface, said base platform member having at least one wheel assembly operably coupled thereto, said at least one wheel assembly configured to move said base platform member in an omnidirectional movement; 
 a controller, said controller having necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said controller further being communicably coupled to at least one remote computing device wherein the remote computing device provides an operational interface for operation of the controller; 
 a ball retention assembly, said ball retention assembly configured to releasably secure a baseball; 
 a lift assembly, said lift assembly operably coupled to said base platform member and said ball retention assembly, said lift assembly configured to provide vertical movement of said ball retention assembly; and 
 a swing path angle adjustment assembly, said swing path angle adjustment assembly operably coupling said ball retention assembly to said lift assembly, said swing path angle adjustment assembly configured to provide independent manipulation of three separate swing path angles. 
 
     
     
       2. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said swing path angle adjustment assembly further includes a first axis movement assembly, said first axis movement assembly being rotatably mounted to said lift assembly distal to said base platform member, said first axis movement assembly operable to provide adjustment of a explicit swing path loft angle wherein said explicit swing path loft angle is a tilt in a swing plane of a bat from a perspective of a catcher to a pitcher of a baseball as viewed from a face-on bat direction. 
     
     
       3. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said swing path angle adjustment assembly further includes a second axis movement assembly, said second axis movement assembly being operably coupled to said first axis movement assembly, said second axis movement assembly operable to provide adjustment of a horizontal swing path bat angle wherein the horizontal swing path bat angle is a horizontal angle of a bat traveling through a swing path. 
     
     
       4. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said swing path angle adjustment assembly further includes a third axis movement assembly, said third axis movement assembly being operably coupled to said second axis movement assembly, said third axis movement assembly being independently movable, said third axis movement assembly operable to provide adjustment of a vertical swing path angle wherein the vertical swing path angle is a vertical angle of a swing plane as viewed from center field of a baseball field. 
     
     
       5. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said second axis movement assembly is operable to move in a left-right direction with respect to said first axis movement assembly. 
     
     
       6. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said third axis movement assembly is configured to move in an upwards-downwards direction with respect to said second axis movement assembly. 
     
     
       7. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 6 , and further including a ball flight tracking member, wherein said ball flight tracking member is configured to measure, record and transmit a launch angle and a spray angle of a baseball as the baseball departs the baseball swing training apparatus. 
     
     
       8. A baseball swing path training apparatus that is operable to provide three distinct swing path training axes for a baseball swing wherein the baseball swing path training apparatus comprises:
 a base member, said base member being formed from a base plate, said base plate being planar in manner and square in shape having four corners, said base plate having an upper surface, said base plate having a wheel assembly located proximate each corner thereof, said wheel assembly configured to move said base member in an omnidirectional movement; 
 a controller, said controller being mounted to the upper surface of said base plate, said controller having necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said controller further being communicably coupled to a remote computing device wherein the remote computing device provides an operational interface for operation of the baseball swing path training apparatus; 
 a ball retention assembly, said ball retention assembly being u-shaped, said ball retention assembly including a rear portion, a lower portion and an upper portion being contiguously formed, said ball retention assembly further including ball securing members being operably coupled to said lower portion and said upper portion of said ball retention assembly, said ball securing members configured to releasably secure a baseball therebetween; 
 a lift assembly, said lift assembly operably coupled to said base plate and said ball retention assembly, said lift assembly including a plurality of arm members, each of said plurality of arm members being pivotally coupled to each other at one end thereof, said plurality of arm members being independently movable, said lift assembly configured to provide vertical movement of said ball retention assembly; and 
 a swing path angle adjustment assembly, said swing path angle adjustment assembly operably coupling said ball retention assembly to said lift assembly, said swing path angle adjustment assembly including a first axis movement assembly, a second axis movement assembly and a third axis movement assembly, said first axis movement assembly, said second axis movement assembly and said third axis movement assembly all being independently adjustable. 
 
     
     
       9. The baseball swing path training apparatus as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of arm members further include a motor and gear assembly being operable to independently move each of said plurality of arm members. 
     
     
       10. The baseball swing path training apparatus as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first axis movement assembly being rotatably mounted to said lift assembly distal to said base platform member, said first axis movement assembly operable to provide adjustment of a explicit swing path loft angle, wherein said explicit swing path loft angle is a tilt in a swing plane of a bat from a perspective of a catcher to a pitcher of a baseball as viewed from a face-on bat direction. 
     
     
       11. The baseball swing path training apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said second axis movement assembly being operably coupled to said first axis movement assembly, said second axis movement assembly operable to provide adjustment of a horizontal swing path bat angle wherein the horizontal swing path bat angle is a horizontal angle of a bat traveling through a swing path. 
     
     
       12. The baseball swing path training apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said third axis movement assembly being operably coupled to said second axis movement assembly, said third axis movement assembly being independently movable, said third axis movement assembly operable to provide adjustment of a vertical swing path angle wherein the vertical swing path angle is a vertical angle of a swing plane as viewed from center field of a baseball field. 
     
     
       13. The baseball swing path training apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , and further including a bat speed detection member, said bat speed detection member configured to measure, record and transmit a speed of a bat passing through the ball retention member. 
     
     
       14. The baseball swing path training apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , and further including a ball flight tracking member, wherein said ball flight tracking member is configured to measure, record and transmit a launch angle and a spray angle of a baseball as the baseball departs the baseball swing training apparatus. 
     
     
       15. A baseball swing training apparatus operable to train a player on an optimal combination of three swing path angles for a baseball swing for baseballs located in alternate locations of a strike zone wherein the baseball swing training apparatus comprises:
 a base member, said base member being formed from a base plate, said base plate being planar in manner and square in shape having four corners, said base plate having an upper surface, said base plate having four wheel assemblies wherein one of each of the four wheel assemblies is located proximate at each corner of the base plate, said four wheel assemblies configured to move said base member in an omnidirectional movement; 
 a controller, said controller being mounted to the upper surface of said base plate, said controller having necessary electronics to receive, store, transmit and manipulate data, said controller further being communicably coupled to a remote computing device wherein the remote computing device provides an operational interface for operation of the baseball swing path training apparatus; 
 a ball retention assembly, said ball retention assembly being u-shaped, said ball retention assembly including a rear portion, a lower portion and an upper portion being contiguously formed, said ball retention assembly further including ball securing members being operably coupled to said lower portion and said upper portion of said ball retention assembly, said ball securing members configured to releasably secure a baseball therebetween; 
 a lift assembly, said lift assembly operably coupled to said base plate and said ball retention assembly, said lift assembly including three arm members, said three arm members having a first end and a second end, said three arm members each having opposing sidewalls forming a void therebetween wherein the void extends intermediate the first end and second end of each of said three arm members, said three arm members being pivotally coupled to each other at one end thereof, said three arm members being independently movable wherein each of three arm members is operably controlled by a separate motor and gear assembly, said lift assembly configured to provide vertical movement of said ball retention assembly; and 
 a swing path angle adjustment assembly, said swing path angle adjustment assembly operably coupling said ball retention assembly to said lift assembly, said swing path angle adjustment assembly including a first axis movement assembly, a second axis movement assembly and a third axis movement assembly, said first axis movement assembly, said second axis movement assembly and said third axis movement assembly all being independently adjustable, wherein a portion of said first axis movement assembly is rotatably coupled to one of said three arm members of said lift assembly that is distal to said base plate, said first axis movement assembly having a motor assembly, said second axis movement assembly being operably coupled to said first axis movement assembly and having a motor assembly operably coupled thereto, said third axis movement assembly being operably coupled to said second axis movement assembly and wherein said third axis movement assembly is moved in an upwards-downwards direction with an independent motor assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , and further including a ball flight tracking member, said ball flight tracking member being mounted to said ball retention apparatus, wherein said ball flight tracking member is configured to measure, record and transmit a launch angle and a spray angle of a baseball as the baseball departs the baseball swing training apparatus. 
     
     
       17. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , and further including a bat speed detection member, said bat speed detection member configured to measure, record and transmit a speed of a bat passing through the ball retention member. 
     
     
       18. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said first axis movement assembly is operable to provide adjustment of an explicit swing path loft angle, wherein said explicit swing path loft angle is a tilt in a swing plane of a bat from a perspective of a catcher to a pitcher of a baseball as viewed from a face-on bat direction. 
     
     
       19. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said second axis movement assembly is operable to provide adjustment of a horizontal swing path bat angle wherein the horizontal swing path bat angle is a horizontal angle of a bat traveling through a swing path. 
     
     
       20. The baseball swing training apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said third axis movement assembly being operable to provide adjustment of a vertical swing path angle wherein the vertical swing path angle is a vertical angle of a swing plane as viewed from center field of a baseball field.